After Constantly Courting Death, I Became the White Moonlight - Chapter 18

The canopy of the ten-thousand-year-old Dragonblood Tree blocked out the sky and sun. It wasn’t until they’d escaped some distance into the woods that Ning Ning realized it had started to rain.

Drizzles slipped through the gaps in the leaves, racing to fall to the ground, shattering into luminous droplets like tiny pearls.

The rainy night was misty, with the fragrance of flowers winding around tree shadows. In the past, it would’ve made for a breathtakingly beautiful scene. But now, with a crimson haze blanketing the entire ancient forest, there was a strange air of desolation and horror.

It was like soaking in a pool of blood, with droplets falling in splashes, like some hellish punishment.

“This ancient tree has turned into a spirit and somehow absorbed demonic energy. With just the two of us in the Golden Core stage, we can’t defeat it.”

Su Qinghan sighed, once again marveling at how impressive other people’s juniors were, then calmly analyzed the situation: “What’s worse, your junior brother is injured. If we fight, we’ll be too distracted to protect him. It’s better to retreat first and go find—”

She didn’t finish her sentence. The rest of her words got stuck in her throat.

In just a flash, the plants and trees in the forest suddenly stirred. As if receiving a command, vines and branches shot up into the air, poised to strike.

“This is bad.”

Su Qinghan gave a dry laugh and lowered her voice. “It looks like that tree has grown strong enough to control the whole forest… Unless we burn the place down, we might not be able to get out.”

Just as she finished speaking, vines from every direction lunged at them.

This forest was dense and lush, and now it seemed every single tree had become a puppet of the Dragon blood Tree—dangerous didn’t even begin to describe it.

Thick branches were unbelievably strong and horrifyingly flexible. Soaked in the eerie blood mist, they looked like perfect candidates for a starring role in Anaconda 3.

Honestly, even a real anaconda would have to gasp, “Wow, such a fine figure.”

Given the situation, sword flight was no longer an option. Su Qinghan was about to retract her sword when she heard Ning Ning call out, “Senior Sister Su, wait!”

Perplexed, she paused as Ning Ning quickly added, “If we get entangled here, we really won’t make it out! Let’s fly back!”

Su Qinghan’s eye twitched, then she immediately understood her meaning.

Now that the entire forest was under control, if they stayed to fight random branches and bushes, it would only end in exhaustion and getting swallowed alive.

To catch the thief, catch the king first. If they wanted to resolve this bizarre situation, they had to go after the Dragon blood Tree itself.

Two streaks of sword light quickly reversed direction. Pei Ji, though covered in blood, managed to hold his own—most of the injuries were external. Gritting his teeth, he still managed to slash away at vines trying to reach them—

Though, honestly, that level of “gritting his teeth” would’ve sent Ning Ning straight into cardiac arrest.

They hadn’t gone far, so the return trip was quick.

Now, the Dragonblood Tree looked even more terrifying than before. Several long, deep cracks had opened in its bark, and resin like blood was oozing down, gradually forming the shape of weeping human faces.

It was downright absurd—like they’d wandered into a horror movie set.

Sensing human presence, the ancient vines turned and, upon seeing who had come back, trembled smugly, as if very pleased with themselves.

“Junior Sister Ning, it looks like the three of us will really have to take this tree on together,” Su Qinghan said.

What surprised Ning Ning was that Su Qinghan didn’t show the slightest trace of fear. Instead, a faint smile welled up in her eyes and tugged at the corners of her lips. “From what I can tell, although the dragon blood Tree has lived a long time, what it’s using now is demonic energy—not spiritual energy accumulated over ten thousand years. If it’s relying on demonic energy alone, its cultivation wouldn’t match that of a true ten-thousand-year-old. If we go all out, we might just stand a chance.”

As she spoke, she couldn’t hide her excitement. Her chest heaved slightly, the smile in her eyes growing ever brighter. “Even if we die here today, to spar with the legendary Dragonblood Tree using our swordsmanship—what a worthy death. I’ve waited so long to face a truly interesting opponent… This is a blessing!”

Ning Ning stared at her in horror.

She had indeed heard the rumors before—that Su Qinghan of the Myriad Sword Sect was a bona fide sword fanatic, completely devoted to the way of the sword, and known for her wildly intense nature—but seeing it in person was still shocking.

Senior Sister Su, you’re not just a straightforward, steel-hearted woman. Are you this kind of Senior Sister Su?

Super chuunibyou… but also super cool!

As the vines surged toward them, Ning Ning and Su Qinghan simultaneously sheathed their swords.

Still worried about Pei Ji, Ning Ning looked up. But the moment their eyes met, the boy pursed his lips and averted his gaze. His throat moved slightly as he spoke in a stiff tone: “No need to trouble yourself, Senior Sister.”

After being so ruthlessly exposed by Su Qinghan earlier, Ning Ning had pretty much lost the ability to talk to Pei Ji like a normal person. So she gave a soft grunt and didn’t bother keeping up her act as a vicious supporting character. “Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to get you out.”

She paused, then added stubbornly, “Don’t forget the spirit stones you owe me.”

With that, she stepped forward, sword in hand. The Dragonblood Tree had a deep foundation and might be hiding a vast reservoir of spiritual energy. But human cultivators could exhaust their spiritual power quickly, so the only chance of winning was a swift, decisive battle.

At the center of the crying face on the tree trunk was a piece of deep brown crystal that resembled amber. It emitted a strange, ghostly light through the blood mist.

Su Qinghan nodded. “That’s likely a demon core. Destroying it would break the foundation of the demonic energy—like a human’s heart. We should aim for that. What do you say?”

Ning Ning nodded, and the Startrace Sword in her hand let out a hum. Pure white light began to spill from the pearl on its hilt.

Since it was called Startrace, the essence of it lay in one word: speed.

Sword light flashed in the air, cutting down several incoming vines and stirring up waves of cold, fierce wind. But the further she went, the more something felt off.

Compared to the outer vines, the ones attacking her grew increasingly thick and tough. It was as if the previous assault had just been a ruse—a trap meant to lure her deeper in.

But why?

What reason did the Dragonblood Tree have for wanting them to get closer?

Just as she was thinking this, the ground beneath her suddenly trembled.

Ning Ning’s heart skipped a beat. She turned her head and shouted, “Senior Sister Su, watch out!”

Her voice was almost drowned out by a deafening roar.

The soil around the Dragonblood Tree suddenly shook violently, as if something massive was about to break free from the earth. A huge shape flickered beneath the surface.

With a thunderous crack, a tree root as thick as three people embracing shot out from the ground, lunging straight at Ning Ning!

So that was it.

The Dragonblood Tree’s roots couldn’t stretch freely. It had lured them closer to lie in wait, like a hunter by the stump—waiting for them to become the nutrients it needed to survive.

Ning Ning tensed, ready to strike with her sword—but before she could act, a sharp burst of sword aura suddenly slashed past her and split the root in two.

She had thought it was Su Qinghan—until the strong stench of blood hit her nose.

That smell drew closer, carrying an oppressive heat, along with a faint trace of soap-like freshness—coming almost close enough to touch.

Just as she turned to look, someone gently covered her eyes.

The boy’s hand seemed to have been carefully cleaned, it wasn’t stained like the rest of his body, which was covered in blood. In that moment of confusion, she heard a voice at her ear.

It was Pei Ji’s voice—cool and aloof, as if he were forcibly suppressing unbearable pain. Yet buried within it was the faintest softness, perhaps even he hadn’t realized.

He said, “Close your eyes. Don’t look.”

Ning Ning froze.

Everything had happened in an instant. Pei Ji quickly let go of her. But even after he did, Ning Ning could no longer see her surroundings clearly. Her vision was as though wrapped in a dark mist—only shadows shifting vaguely before her eyes.

The sound of roots breaking through the earth rang out all around. The scent of blood in the air grew even stronger. She frowned and called out, “Pei Ji!”

Pei Ji had shrouded her eyes with demonic energy, making it impossible for her to see what lay ahead. But Su Qinghan—and the sect elders outside the Mirror of Clarity—could see everything clearly.

One elder rose to his feet in shock, voice trembling: “This… this is—!”

Tian Xianzi furrowed his brow, for the first time putting down his white jade cake.

Pei Ji was gambling with his life.

He was forcing his spirit power, pushing himself to the limit in a desperate bid.

This move would undoubtedly lead him into a death trap.

Already seriously injured, he was now forcibly unleashing all the remaining spiritual energy in his body, breaking open his sea of consciousness to trigger his full potential. Even if he could defeat the Dragonblood Tree, the damage to him would be catastrophic.

And then there was the black mist surrounding him—

The young man was completely engulfed in demonic energy, as if protected by an invisible barrier.

That pure black aura—like smoke, like fog—lingered around his cold, sharp features. His dark eyes were clouded, void of light, like a bottomless, still pool—dangerous and untouchable.

And yet, this same Pei Ji had just held a young girl gently in his arms.

His pale lips were now completely drained of color. He furrowed his brows and silently recited a spell.

It was a strange, twisted scene—demonic energy clung to him like the wailing ghosts of purgatory, blood-veined eyes flooded with crimson, leaving no whites behind. A thin line of blood slid from the corner of his mouth, making his face appear as pale as thin paper.

Without saying a word, Pei Ji stepped in front of Ning Ning and subtly shielded her behind him, gripping his sword tightly.

The righteous sword aura and the surging demonic energy merged, forming a swirl of light and shadow.

Layer after layer of sword light tore through the vines, like thunderous lightning cracking the sky. It slashed through the dense bloody fog. The sword aura blew apart the overlapping tree branches above. A single raindrop fell, landing on the bloodstained lashes of the boy.

Pei Ji lifted his gaze, his black pupils shining with cold light and bloodlust—condensing into a furious sword intent.

The light vanished. The sword struck unseen.

To cut through all the vines—he needed only a single moment.

Just one sword—staked with his life.

…

Meanwhile, at Changyue Peak.

After dragging back his completely-out-of-it best friend Xu Ye, He Zhizhou staggered onward once more.

But think about who he was.

He was afraid of heights.

Letting someone who feared heights ride a flying sword—with a pair of eyes behind him sharp enough to stab holes through his back?

The difficulty level of this situation was equivalent to… making a Calabash Brother call the snake demon grandpa or trying to drive an R18 scene on Jinjiang Literature Network. And worse—it’s an NP scene.

He flew around dazedly. Tonight, he was supposed to fly far, far away.

Unfortunately, he didn’t reach a happy planet—he crash-landed into some ghost place he couldn’t even name.

The reason he stopped here.

Because there was nowhere left to go.

What lay ahead was nothing but a boundless ocean.

The moment the flying sword touched down, He Zhizhou was as happy as a kid. He threw his arms around Xu Ye’s neck. “Ye, we finally escaped those demonic claws! Now we just have to wait for Ning Ning to meet us—wait, hold on… where are we?”

Xu Ye, utterly exhausted, pointed to the scratch on his face and weakly asked, “Who did this?”

He Zhi Zhou, let out a sheepish laugh. “Sorry, that was me.”

“And this one,” Xu Ye said expressionlessly, pointing to the bloody scrape on his arm, “who did this?”

He Zhi Zhou didn’t dare say a word. He silently raised his right hand.

Xu Ye: “So tell me, do you think I’ve escaped the clutches of evil now?”

“Ye, that’s not really fair to say…”

He Zhi Zhou tried to coax him carefully. “Compared to the anomalies back there, someone like me is just a small hassle. Look, I have already taken you to this safe place. What could possibly be more terrifying than that forest—”

Before he could finish, he sucked in a sharp breath, body stiffening like a popsicle pulled from the freezer.

Xu Ye slowly turned his head, calm faced.

Then, still serene, Xu Ye closed his eyes and promptly fainted from fear.

—Hovering behind him in midair was a giant bird the size of a house. Bare-bodied with a long tail, its orange-yellow eyes were vertical slits like a snake’s, glowing faintly through the misty rain.

That was the look a predator gave its prey—instinctive, merciless.

Just as the massive bird swooped down, its sharp claws nearly touching He Zhi Zhou, a sudden flash of golden Buddhist light flared, making him squint.

The giant bird screeched and retreated into the air, though its eerie pupils remained locked on them.

S-So.

What the hell was going on?!

“Donor, there is no need to worry. With the Vajra Barrier protecting you, the Xuan Bird will not harm you for the time being.”

He Zhi Zhou followed the voice and saw a young monk meditating not far away.

He couldn’t have been more than sixteen or seventeen. Though bald, his face was undeniably beautiful—even as a straight man, He Zhi Zhou had to admit it. Bright eyes, white teeth, skin like porcelain, and an aura of unapproachable holiness that made it impossible to look away.

Surrounding the monk were five unfamiliar cultivators, also within the Vajra Barrier.

“That’s a man-eating Xuan Bird. It’s guarding this place on purpose.”

The monk gave a faint smile, his voice as clear as spring water: “We can’t do anything about it, so we’re hiding here.”

He Zhi Zhou hurried to thank him. “Thank you. May I ask who you are?”

“That’s Little Master Mingkong from Brahma Sound Temple. You’ve never heard of him?” a nearby sound cultivator answered before the monk could speak. When He Zhi Zhou shook his head in confusion, the man said in astonishment, “Do you know the three supreme techniques of Brahma Sound Temple?”

He Zhi Zhou was silent for a moment, then tentatively asked, “Uh… Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon, World-Honored Kṣitigarbha, Prajñā Paramita Bang Bang Boom?”

“It’s Ten Thousand Buddhas Homage, Formless Tribulation, and Vajra Body Protection Technique.”

The sound cultivator shot him a sideways glance, then chuckled flatteringly toward Mingkong: “Among them, the Vajra Body Protection Technique is the most difficult. Most Buddhist cultivators need at least a hundred years to reach the third layer. But our Little Master Mingkong only needed ten!”

Ten years.

He really was a genius!

He Zhi Zhou turned into a little fanboy, eyes sparkling, and asked curiously, “What about the other techniques?”

A strange silence fell over the group.

Mingkong smiled gently, like a breeze brushing over a quiet lake. His flawless features glowed faintly with light, making him appear as pure and ethereal as a flower blooming on a snowy cliff, embodying the essence of Buddhism itself.

Then, still smiling, he raised his right hand and slowly traced a circle around his smooth, shiny bald head.

Like a perfectly round duck egg.

The meaning was obvious: Your boy here knows nothing else. Surprised?

“Well, just being able to master one of the supreme techniques is already impressive,” the sound cultivator said with a dry laugh, eyeing Mingkong’s profile with worship. “Besides those three, I bet all of Little Master Mingkong’s other techniques are otherworldly too, right?”

Mingkong cast him a bland glance.

Then he pursed his lips in a smile and raised both hands.

He made circles around his eyes—like panda rings.

The gesture was so goofy that He Zhi Zhou burst out laughing.

Yo, this little monk was kind of cheeky, huh?

—So you’re saying your progress in all the other techniques is zero? That’s some serious subject bias! And you’re even laughing about it? Is this what counts as a genius at Brahma Sound Temple?! He Zhi Zhou, who had never met anyone more unreliable than himself, was utterly stunned and gave a big thumbs-up. “Now that’s a pro move.”

“If others do not offend me, I will not offend them. Those who seek the Buddha and the Dao should follow their hearts, go with the flow, and be true to themselves. Since I already possess the means to defend myself, why should I harm others? ”

Still seated in the lotus position, Mingkong’s beautiful eyes were calm and starry. “Mastering the Vajra Body Protection Technique is enough.”

Nearby, the sound cultivator was already howling praises like “As expected of Little Master Mingkong” and “Monks are indeed compassionate.” But He Zhi Zhou thought… there might be something wrong with this guy’s brain.

Mingkong gently swept his gaze across everyone present. His voice was still serene, clear, and unhurried, completely free of panic. “Donors, there is no need to worry. To become a dragon or elephant among Buddhas, one must first be the cattle or horse of all beings. Every injury is a form of growth. Only after overcoming this ordeal can one make further progress in cultivation and self-refinement.”

He Zhi Zhou was silent.

Bro… that’s not growth.

You’re about to be fully cooked, you know that?!

He was silently roasting in his mind when the person beside him, Xu Ye, seemed to regain consciousness and stirred slightly.

At the same time, the unwilling-to-give-up-on-its-food Xuan Bird dove down, glaring straight at him through a shimmering golden shield.

So when Xu Ye finally came to, the first thing he saw was his extremely unreliable Brother He, locked in a staring contest with the legendary Xuan Bird. After a moment of silence, He Zhizhou suddenly shouted with full confidence, “Don’t look at me! If you turn me into food, you’ll suffer for it!”

Xu Ye thought he was dreaming.

How could He Zhizhou sound so tough at a time like this? Could it be that he was just used to joking around normally, but now that danger was real—

He didn’t even get to finish that thought.

Because he saw He Zhizhou grimace, reach into his pack, and pull out a Sheying Grass—a plant infamous for its extreme bitterness and stench.

Without hesitation, He Zhizhou crushed it and smeared the paste all over his face.

Literal suffering!
(吃苦头 = “suffer hardship”, but he made it literal.)

Xu Ye: …

What is wrong with you, big bro?! Who on earth takes “suffering” literally and smears bitterness on their own face to hand themselves over as food?! You’re basically offering yourself up on a silver platter! Please, have some survival instinct!

What he didn’t expect was… the Xuan Bird seemed to understand. It blinked in mild surprise, then lost interest and turned its gaze away.

But its two orange pupils then landed on a nearby Luming Mountain talisman cultivator, who instantly trembled like a leaf.

“Don’t—don’t look at me! I’m cold-hearted, my guts are tough and chewy, I’m really not tasty!”

After a pause, he pointed to someone nearby: “But he’s good! He’s a scumbag. Easy to digest!”
—Treasure! Luming Mountain’s picked up a ghost, huh!?

No way no way—has He Zhizhou’s dumbass behavior become contagious?! Are all talisman cultivators like this?! What is wrong with this world?!

“I spit on you!”

The charm cultivator who got pointed at leapt up indignantly. “Lord Xuan Bird, please judge fairly! Everyone says I’m cold and ruthless—my blood? It’s ice cold. Bitingly cold.”

The Xuan Bird’s strange vertical pupils narrowed slightly. Was that… amusement?

That charm cultivator would never forget what happened next.

After he finished that dramatic line, the holy-grade spirit beast before him chuckled coldly and, in a voice like the underworld’s death summons, said:
“No worries. I only eat familiar faces.”

The charm cultivator’s soul just packed up and left his body.

Too terrifying. Way too terrifying.

Xu Ye was dumbfounded. All of these cultivators were nuts! Even the Xuan Bird had been dragged down into their madness! The only one who looked remotely normal was…

The young monk Mingkong from Fanyin Temple.

He was a famously gifted genius, master of the Diamond Body Protection Technique, and—come on—all Buddhist cultivators were known for being upright and serious. Surely he wouldn’t say anything crazy.

Enduring the pain, Xu Ye scooted a bit closer to Mingkong. “Little Master, what exactly… is going on?”

“Why are your eyes always full of tears?”

Mingkong lowered his eyes to meet Xu Ye’s, frowning compassionately. His voice was as clear as spring water.
“If I were a little deer in the mountains, I’d die instantly from the sorrow in your eyes.”

He paused, then added:
“Come, gaze at the stars with me. Look at this heavenly rain. Buddha said—who is whose cause, and who is whose effect… cause and effect—ah, this mountain. Ah, this water.”

Xu Ye: Bro. Can you speak human language, please.

So, the whole mountain-and-water line was just you running out of steam and throwing in random filler, huh?! It didn’t even connect with the rest of the quote! And Buddha never said that, right? RIGHT?!

Mingkong, that pitiful little deer, was totally fine. Meanwhile, Xu Ye was halfway to a breakdown.

In a daze, he heard someone nearby yelling, “We need one more player for mahjong! We’ve been waiting forever!”

So, this… this was what elite disciples from the top sects were like.

He loved it. He loved it.

The young sword cultivator, his worldview thoroughly shaken, wore a blank expression as he shuffled into a quiet corner and squatted down.

So lonely, so pitiful, so helpless. Like a baby abandoned by the world. His only emotional support—

Was his senior sister Su Qinghan, whereabouts currently unknown.

Senior Sister, do you know?

Sky blue waits for the rain… Your Ye Ye is waiting for you.